alexander technique

   
 

 
 
 

Country Life Magazine
January 2003

These feet were made for walking

The human body has 639 muscles, 206 bones and 230 joints all perfectly aligned to enable us to put one foot in front of the other. But spending years at a desk or behind a steering wheel takes it toll, and even a simple 10-mile stroll can cause aches and pains. Improve your posture using the Alexander Technique, and those grumbles will disappear.

What is the Alexander Technique?

Pioneered by Frederick Matthias Alexander at the turn of the 20th century, the Alexander Technique helps you achieve good posture. This allows your body to move freely and efficiently with maximum balance and minimum effort.

Your posture is a reflection of your life. When you learned to walk as a toddler, your posture was good and centred around balance. But, over the years, you have picked up bad habits and these now affect the way you walk. Perhaps you were a tall teenager and rounded your shoulders in an unconscious effort to appear smaller. Maybe a large part of your working life is spent sitting down, and you tend to slump. Or do you have a stressful job and habitually tense your neck and shoulders?

When you walk, your poor posture and tensed muscles place unnecessary stress on your body, impeding your strides and leading to pain and fatigue. Think of your body in terms of a machine, with tensed muscles as rusty hinges and a poorly-aligned skeleton as misplaced components inhibiting fluid movement – isn’t it time you gave your body a service and got it back in full working order?

Most walkers who use the Technique find they are able to walk further with less effort, ending their day ache-free. Back to top of page

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